Posted December 3, 200420 yr from, company website... Lighthouse Village is a 450,000 square foot retail development located in western Lorain county Ohio. The site is located at the intersection of Leavitt Road (SR-58) and Jaeger Road, north of the SR-2 interchange. This development complements Avon/Sheffield and Midway Mall by providing a western Lorain County retail trade area. From the site, it is almost 7 miles to Midway Mall and over 12 miles to Avon Commons. Adjacent to the site is Martin's Run, a multi-million housing development under construction by Oster Homes and the Forest City Land Group. This 529-acre project consists of over 2,000 housing units including single-family homes, cluster homes and townhouses. http://www.martinsrunliving.com from, Morning Journal (4/30/2004) Retail complex is pitched for Lorain Sixty-five acres of land on Leavitt Road (Route 58) where the Church on the North Coast had previously planned to erect a 10,000-seat sanctuary could be the site of a retail development if a judge agrees. LORAIN -- Sixty-five acres of land on Leavitt Road where the Church on the North Coast had previously planned to erect a 10,000-seat sanctuary could be the site of a retail development if a judge agrees. Liberty Development Co. and Goodman Real Estate Services Group are working together to develop Lighthouse Village, but first they need deed restrictions on the land lifted by Lorain County Probate Court. ...
December 3, 200420 yr i'm feeling a bit oppostional today so i'm going to say "yay" for this retail development. two reasons. one as i recall there is like zero retail left in lorain so they need some. and two because its not exactly 100% sprawl. there was an airport on that site at one time. lorain certainly needs investment of any type and in fact is doing quite well in terms of redevelopment in its downtown. somebody told me they even have some lofts in old buildings. also, according to the developer website below, the 2004 lorain county redevelopment project of the year, the harborwalk townhomes and marinas on the former american shipbuilding grounds in the harbor (factoid-- amship was owned by the yankees boss, george steinbrenner his bad self). i'd like to check these out sometime, here is the harborwalk website -- clik & scroll down: http://www.zarembahomes.com/communities/pdf/spechomes.pdf
December 3, 200420 yr ^ So why not put the retail in Lorain? Northgate Mall here in suburban Cincy used to be an airport, too. The mall is doing well, but the land could have been developed in a much better fashion.
December 3, 200420 yr i dont think there was ever an airport on the site of this proposed shopping center. Its very heavily wooded. maybe your talking about martins run but im not even aware on one being there.. I could be wrong though
December 3, 200420 yr steele you're right. the airport was further north up leavit road--actually just above meister road on the west side of the street. i didnt scroll over the photo so i misread it until just now. lorain is long "built out" i think that is the about the last open tree stand left in the city no? too bad.
December 4, 200420 yr The land where you say that airport used to be is now the Campana Industrial Park (i think thats what its called).. basically big ugly buildings The REAL Lorain is pretty much built out.... but the far west side (amherst area) is booming with fancy subdivisions (yes homes of over 1,000,000 dollars are in Lorain... lol) and shopping centers like this one. At least in the new subdivision next door , Martin's Run wiill 50 some acres that will be a metro park.
January 11, 200520 yr Looks like this is gona actually happen.... SHOPPING CENTER GETS A BIG BOOST from, Morning Journal (1-11-05) LORAIN -- A shopping center development on 65 acres on Leavitt Road is one step closer now that a judge has decided to lift deed restrictions attached to the land. On Friday, Lorain County Probate Court Judge Frank J. Horvath lifted the restrictions tied to the land currently owned by the Church on the North Coast and ruled that $1,250,000 from the sale be given to Lorain County charities, according to Tom Kuluris, president of Liberty Development Co. ...
January 13, 200520 yr the resident mrs. tennant is correct. why cut down the very last tree stand left in the city for a strip mall? there is a totally abandoned strip mall just slightly directly north of that which could be renovated. chop chop chop those treees. ugh. still i know lorain needs the shops they have nothing at all going retail-wise. and i mean zero retail. too bad.
January 13, 200520 yr That shopping center, Westgate Plaza, could never be rennovated into what is being proposed here.. Directly across the street from it is section 8, section 8 and more section 8 housing. Literally the only store that is open is a dollar general. I guess you could say Westgate is on the "wrong side of the tracks". The tracks pretty much run along school district boundaries. And if there actualy was a RR running through town, Lighthouse village would be a noisy place to shop. This new shopping center, Lighthouse Village, is in a completely diffrent neighborhood, one with new 200,000 dollar plus homes being built everyday. So I guess thats why no developer is willing to renovate the center to the north. Money talks I guess, and not enough people care about saving the trees. It would be nice if at least a small section could be set aside for a park, I'm dreaming though. But really this is a very good thing for Lorain, there is no shopping, only abandoned buildings. And it seems every day I hear about more police officers or fire fighters are getting laid off. At least this will give Lorain something.
August 8, 200519 yr From the 8/2/05 Lorain Morning Journal: Proposed Home Depot raises wetlands concerns BETH STALLINGS, Morning Journal Writer 08/02/2005 LORAIN -- Residents angered at the thought of losing wetlands so a Home Depot can be built in Lorain made their opinions known at an Ohio Environmental Protection Agency hearing last night. Throughout the hearing there were comments calling the idea ''madness,'' ''ludicrous'' and ''insane.'' ... http://www.morningjournal.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=14961661&BRD=1699&PAG=461&dept_id=46371&rfi=6
October 27, 200519 yr From the 10/25/05 Lorain Morning Journal: Lighthouse Village hearing draws big crowd MIKE SAKAL, Morning Journal Writer LORAIN -- More than 200 angry residents turned out last night to a public hearing on a proposed rezoning to accommodate the 65-acre Lighthouse Village shopping complex at the corner of Jaeger and Leavitt roads. During the standing-room only hearing at City Hall Tom Kuluris, president of Liberty Development, which plans to purchase the property, said, ''We're excited about this project.'' ... http://www.morningjournal.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15446895&BRD=1699&PAG=461&dept_id=566374&rfi=8
November 22, 200519 yr oh yay a new big box strip mall is a go! Retail plaza plans get OK MIKE SAKAL, Morning Journal Writer 11/22/2005 LORAIN -- City Council approved by a 9-2 vote last night the 65-acre rezoning request for Liberty Development Co. of Westlake to build the Lighthouse Village shopping center. The vote also triggers the possibility of a referendum on the rezoning. Businesses showing interest in Lighthouse Village now include Target, Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Applebee's, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Starbucks and an International House of Pancakes, Tom Kuluris, president of Liberty Development Co., said after the meeting. ...
November 22, 200519 yr ha you beat me to it! but anyone who has attemped driving on route 58 during rush hour knows that it cannot take the likes of Lighthouse Village AND Wal Mart AND the soccer academy. this is ridiculous its already a 5 lane highway! but it will be nice to have a Chipotle and Olive Garden right around the corner! im sick of driving to Great Northern.
November 22, 200519 yr yeah i used to hate always having to go to great northern too. didnt the new lifestyle mall and the avon/elyria plaza by lccc add anything in the way of shopping??? i guess not much. we will ignore midway mall. i have to admit even tho i do not like the physical structures themselves i am glad to hear about new retail going into the city limits and the area --- given there was zero! well kmart. no doubt people are underserved and desperate for retail around there.
November 26, 200519 yr Not so fast. From the 11/23/05 Lorain Morning Journal: Residents want retail plaza zoning on ballot MIKE SAKAL, Morning Journal Writer 11/23/2005 LORAIN -- Voters could get a chance to decide whether Lighthouse Village, a retail plaza anchored by a Home Depot and Kohl's, will be built on the city's west side. The Friends of Anna E. Martin, which oppose Liberty Development Co.'s plans to build Lighthouse Village plaza on 65 acres at the northwest corner of Leavitt and Jaeger roads, yesterday submitted to city Auditor Ron Mantini their intent to circulate petitions for a referendum against the rezoning. ... http://www.morningjournal.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15626864&BRD=1699&PAG=461&dept_id=46371&rfi=6
November 26, 200519 yr To be honest with you guys, as much as I would like to see this development go through, I would even more like to see this get rejected by the voters in Lorain (as did Wal Mart). As you all know I live in Amherst (basically right across the street) so I personally would rather see these businesses get built on my side of the street and the taxes they generate go to pave MY roads. but thats just my two cents. I couldnt imagine Lorain, rejecting this but, who knows?
December 7, 200519 yr From the 12/3/05 Lorain Morning Journal: Developer planning to break ground in 30 days SCOT ALLYN, Morning Journal Writer 12/03/2005 LORAIN -- Developer Tom Kuluris said he intends to break ground for two anchor tenants at the Lighthouse Village shopping center within 30 days. However, his plans for building the 65-acre shopping center on Lorain's west side could still be derailed if an opposition group gathers enough signatures to place a referendum about the project's zoning on the November 2006 ballot. Kuluris, who said he has an agreement to purchase the property for the project from the Church on the North Coast, will make a formal announcement and hold a rally at 11 a.m. today at the northwest corner of Leavitt and Jaeger roads. The project could be open to shoppers as early as next fall, according to Kuluris, president of Liberty Development Co. ... http://www.morningjournal.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15686335&BRD=1699&PAG=461&dept_id=566374&rfi=8
December 9, 200519 yr ^ Thanks for the map! It's helpful for those of us who are unfamiliar with the area. From the 12/6/05 Elyria Chronicle Telegram: Lorain votes on urban renewal Shawn Foucher The Chronicle-Telegram LORAIN — Slipping in what they hope will be the final piece of the Lighthouse Village puzzle, City Council on Monday voted 9-2 to designate 65 acres at the corner of Jaeger and Leavitt roads as an urban renewal area. The vote will turn the predominantly wooded land into a blighted area and an emergency clause in the ordinance will prohibit residents from petitioning for a referendum on the decision, said Councilwoman Kathy Tavenner, who voted against the proposal. ... http://www.chroniclet.com/2005_Archive/12-06-05/Daily%20Pages/Front/Html/Head5.html
December 9, 200519 yr LORAIN -- The Lighthouse Village development will move forward whether or not its opponents get a referendum on the ballot to overturn City Council's Nov. 21 rezoning of the land for the shopping center, city officials and the developer said yesterday. However, an opponent of the $40 million project disputed that the project could move forward without the rezoning council approved Nov. 21. ...
December 9, 200519 yr I'm going to spare you all the rant that I originally envisioned. Here were the topics covered: Declaring a woodlands "blighted" Sprawl in Lorain County The condition of Downtown Lorain and it's surrounding neighborhoods Punching these councilpeople in the nads
December 9, 200519 yr ^oh i understand and hes right. it's the last piece of natural land left in the city and was left that way for a reason, to remain preserved, but thats out the window. the old lady who once owned it is surely turning in her grave. the fact is there is plenty of room for this stuff elsewhere on uncountable brownfields in lorain. or why not spread it all out around downtown? also, how lorain can lose so many thousands of jobs recently and then some developer still wants to build suburban housing and retail? its crazy and uneeded sprawl. how funny, the residents rightly kick out walmart, but then get stuck with this even bigger cookie cutter big box strip plaza --- so what was really accomplished?
December 10, 200519 yr -its not the last natural land. a significant piece? mabye, but surely not the last. -i would love to see it built on one of the brownfields or downtown but good luck convincing the developer! - the fact is the stores don't do well in low income neighborhoods. They follow the money. -and the developers do it in SW Lorain for the same reason they do it in Avon Lake, Amherst, and Vermilion. People buy the houses. They buy the houses because of better schools, lower crime, better highway access and probably racism. From living in the area, I know the businesses will do exceptionally well, there is so much enthusiasm already building. Even with all the jobs lost, people still have money, they must be working somewhere... This is quite the little suburb forming here in SW Lorain/Amherst.. but good luck stopping the development, this is only the beginning.
December 16, 200519 yr ITS ABOUT TIME! LORAIN -- The Lighthouse Village plaza got the green light yesterday from City Law Director Mark Provenza. Liberty Development Co. of Westlake now can take out building permits and break ground for the retail plaza on the northwest corner of Leavitt and Jaeger roads, Provenza ruled yesterday. ...
December 27, 200519 yr From the 12/20/05 Lorain Morning Journal: Lorain City Council approves final plans for Home Depot, Kohl's MIKE SAKAL, Morning Journal Writer 12/20/2005 LORAIN -- City Council approved yesterday the final plans for a Home Depot and a Kohl's department store for Liberty Development Co.'s Lighthouse Village at the northwest corner of Leavitt and Jaeger roads, part of a $40 million development. Plans for both retail stores were passed by 9-1 votes, with Councilwoman Kathy Tavenner, D-at-large, casting the dissenting votes. ... http://www.morningjournal.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15784812&BRD=1699&PAG=461&dept_id=566374&rfi=8
December 27, 200519 yr yes steele i think it is the last undisturbed land. it has been for a long time. there is nothing else left around there undeveloped --- that is within city limits. as to developer reluctance building on brownfields: that situation did not stop spitzer and the harborwalk. there are plenty of storefronts downtown that could be repopulated. big box space? there is a long empty big box store on w21st next to the high level bridge. the abandoned strip plaza north of lighthouse? etcetera.
December 27, 200519 yr FYI... any mention of trees should now be refered to in the past tense... they were out cutting them down the other day :-(
January 11, 200619 yr From the 1/7/06 Elyria Chronicle-Telegram: Lighthouse Village foes seek injunction Brad Dicken The Chronicle-Telegram LORAIN — Opponents of a proposed 65-acre shopping center are hitting the development on several fronts, including asking a county judge to issue an injunction that would prohibit the city from issuing building permits. The injunction request, filed Friday in county Common Pleas Court, accuses the city of violating its own zoning ordinances. ... http://www.chroniclet.com/2006_Archive/01-07-06/Daily%20Pages/Local/Html/local2.html
January 18, 200619 yr Work set to start on Lighthouse Village Shawn Foucher The Chronicle-Telegram LORAIN — It’s been nearly a year since the political and legal battles began between a shopping center developer and residents opposed to the construction of a 65-acre shopping district in Lorain. But it all comes down to a single week. Lighthouse Village developer Tom Kuluris said Tuesday that crews are already clearing trees on the west-side acreage where he plans to build a retail district that will include a Home Depot, Kohl’s, Target, Chipotle, Longhorn Steakhouse, Starbucks, Olive Garden and IHOP. ...
January 18, 200619 yr its a done deal. evryone slap each other on the back. oh yay another chunk of ohio urban greenspace bites the dust. meanwhile, poor and soon to be forgotten anna martin spins in her grave. who could doubt it, her precious land now ruined for another cheezy sprawl strip mall?
January 24, 200619 yr From the 1/21/06 Lorain Morning Journal: Judge will decide on Lighthouse Village by the end of January MATT SUMAN, Morning Journal Writer 01/21/2006 ELYRIA -- Lorain Common Pleas Judge Mark Betleski said in court yesterday he will make a decision on whether to grant a request to stop construction of the Lighthouse Village project by the end of the month. Betleski asked Lighthouse Village developer Tom Kuluris of Liberty Development to not build anything on the site of the $40 million project until he rules on the preliminary injunction. Betleski said construction crews can continue the excavation process while the developer awaits the ruling. ... http://www.morningjournal.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15973359&BRD=1699&PAG=461&dept_id=566374&rfi=8
January 30, 200619 yr here's something i found from a local lorain blogger: Monday, January 23, 2006 Lighthouse Village Update III photo montage: entire view was filled with trees 2 weeks ago (click pic to enlarge) Judge Mark Betleski stated during a hearing held at Lorain County Common Pleas Court on January 20, 2006, that he would issue a judgement on whether or not construction can move forward on the controversial LightHouse Village project. Betleski asked Lighthouse Village developer Tom Kuluris of Liberty Development to not build anything on the site of the $40 million project until he rules on the preliminary injunction. Betleski said construction crews can continue the excavation process while the developer awaits the ruling. ... http://wordofmouthblog.blogspot.com/2006/01/lighthouse-village-update-iii.html
February 5, 200619 yr From the 2/1/06 Elyria Chronicle-Telegram: Lighthouse Village gets partial go-ahead Brian Bardwell The Chronicle-Telegram ELYRIA — Lighthouse Village has been given a mostly green light, as a judge gave developers an OK to begin construction at their discretion. Judge Mark Betleski had previously ordered Liberty Development to hold off on pouring foundations until he ruled in a lawsuit filed by Peggy Asensio, who lives near the proposed development and argued that it was not permitted under the city’s zoning regulations. ... http://www.chroniclet.com/2006_Archive/02-01-06/Daily%20Pages/Local/Html/local1.html
March 20, 200619 yr From the 3/16/06 Elyria Chronicle-Telegram: Lighthouse building proceeds, despite appeal Bette Pearce The Chronicle-Telegram ELYRIA — The developer building the Lighthouse Village retail center at Leavitt and Jaeger roads will continue despite a continuing court battle designed to stop him in his tracks. Lorain resident Peggy Asensio has filed an appeal with the Ninth District Court of Appeals hoping to reverse an earlier court decision on zoning for the project. ... http://www.chroniclet.com/2006_Archive/03-16-06/Daily%20Pages/Local/Html/local5.html
May 15, 200619 yr boy this lorain blogger is really nailing this stuff on the head :clap: you guys will dig this screed: Eminent Lorain VI: The Name Game Published Wednesday, May 10, 2006 by scott bakalar. Went for a drive down Oak Point Road Monday afternoon. The Main Street, or Broadway of New Lorain. That's where Mayor Craig Foltin lives, as does Sanford Prudoff - the Lorain City Community-Planner-for-life, Chief Planner Don Romancak and assistant planner Chris Bauer and many, many other of our local leaders managers & administrators. The Oak Point area a.k.a. New Lorain, is wealthy, has large homes with manicured lawns and several SUV's parked in every driveway. Home of Oster Homes' Oak Point Estates whose residents, although they live in New Lorain, Ohio are fortunate enough to send their kids to Amherst Schools, rather than the schools located within the unfortunate confines of Old Lorain. Amherst Schools and Membership to neighboring Fox Creek Golf & Raquet Club! Not bad at all. ... http://wordofmouthblog.blogspot.com/
August 12, 200618 yr From the 8/8/06 Lorain Morning Journal: YWCA appeals gift order MATT SUMAN, Morning Journal Writer 08/08/2006 ELYRIA -- The Lorain YWCA is appealing a judge's order awarding it $150,000 as part of a charitable arrangement involving land it formerly owned that now is now being developed as the Lighthouse Village shopping center. The 65-acre parcel at Jaeger and Leavitt roads was willed to the YWCA by the late Anna E. Martin, who died in 1964. She had wanted the land used for the benefit of women and children. ... http://www.morningjournal.com/site/index.cfm?newsid=17025475&BRD=1699&PAG=461&dept_id=566374&rfi=8
June 8, 200718 yr From the 6/8/07 Lorain Morning Journal: Applebee's to open new location at Lighthouse Village KATE GIAMMARISE, Morning Journal Writer 06/08/2007 LORAIN -- An Applebee's restaurant will be joining the Home Depot and Kohl's department store in the Lighthouse Village shopping center, according to plans submitted to the city. Developer Tom Kuluris said he hopes the restaurant will be moving dirt at the shopping center at the intersection of Leavitt and Jaeger roads in as little as a few weeks, with an opening before the end of the year. ... http://www.morningjournal.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18446964&BRD=1699&PAG=461&dept_id=46371&rfi=6
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